EKATERINBURG, December 29. / TASS /. The former schema-monk Sergiy (Romanov), who seized the Sredneuralsky nunnery and was excommunicated from the church, was detained to testify. A source in law enforcement agencies told TASS about it.
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“Law enforcement agencies are carrying out investigative measures in the Sredneuralsky monastery. Romanov has been detained for questioning,” the source said.
According to the interlocutor of the agency, the reason for the detention was a video posted on YouTube, in which the former schema monk calls on his devotees to “die for Russia.” For preaching, Romanov was twice fined under articles of the Administrative Code on inciting hatred and enmity and on disseminating unreliable socially significant information.
The interlocutor of the agency also said that law enforcement agencies are conducting searches on the territory of the Sredneuralsky nunnery.
A TASS correspondent reports from the scene that there is a cordon of riot police at the entrance to the monastery. Romanov’s supporters came to the monastery. A traffic police and a tow truck are on duty on the road near the monastery. There are no conflicts on the spot.
Archpriest Maxim (Minyailo), head of the department for relations between the church, society and the media of the Yekaterinburg diocese, said that he did not know about the events held in the monastery. The press service of the Investigative Directorate of the TFR in the region replied that they do not yet have information for the media on the situation.
Earlier, some media reported that in 1986 Romanov was sentenced to 13 years in prison for robbery and murder of a school teacher. After his release from the colony, he went to a monastery.
About Romanov
Romanov was banned from ministry at the end of May 2020 after violating the ban on preaching. Later, the ecclesiastical court of the Yekaterinburg diocese defrocked him for violating the priestly oath. The diocese obliged Romanov to leave the convent, but he continued to perform divine services there, the metropolitanate calls the situation in the monastery a seizure. On September 10, the church court excommunicated Schema-monk Sergius from the church, on October 19 the head of the Russian Orthodox Church approved this decision.
Changes were made to the news (01:43 Moscow time) – details were added in 5-6 paragraphs.
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